Only One NFL Player Per Side Can Have A Coach's Voice In His Helmet

Every NFL play call that reaches the field by radio goes through one helmet on offense and one on defense. The limit is written into Rule 5, Section 3, Article 3, Speakers in Helmets.

Who can hear the coach

A member of the coaching staff in the bench area or the coaches' booth can talk to a designated offensive or defensive player through a speaker in his helmet. Each team is permitted no more than one player on the field with a speaker in his helmet on offense, and one on defense. It is not necessary that the offensive player with the speaker receive the snap.

The window

The communication begins once a game official has signaled a down to be over and is cut off when the play clock reaches 15 seconds or the ball is snapped, whichever occurs first.

The limits

• 01A maximum of three active radio receivers for quarterbacks
• 02A maximum of three active radio receivers for designated primary and backup defensive users
• 03A League-supplied decal on the midline of the rear of every helmet with radio components
• 04Only one player per team with a receiver on the field for special teams plays

When the radio players leave

If the primary and backup defensive users have both been removed from the game, no other player may wear the radio speaker in his helmet, and the team must use other methods to communicate signals. A player who fails to report a change in his status to the Referee or Umpire costs his team five yards for illegal substitution.